World Applied Sciences Journal 12 (Special Issue On Service Sector Transforms the Economy): 39-46, 2011 ISSN 1818-4952 © IDOSI Publications, 2011 Corresponding Author: Noorazlin Ramli, Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 23000 Dungun, Terengganu Malaysia, E-mail: noora115@tganu.uitm.edu.my. 39 The Need of Genetically Modified (GM) Foods for Malaysia Food Security Noorazlin Ramli, Kamaruzaman Jusoff, Fatimah Abd. Ghani, Zetty Madina Md. Zaini, 1 2 1 1 Azlina Samsudin, Munirah Hamid, Norzaidah Ngali and Norazlina Rahmat 1 1 1 1 Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management, 1 Universiti Teknologi MARA, 23000 Dungun, Terengganu, Malaysia Faculty of Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia 2 Abstracts: Malaysia could also be one of the countries that propose the need of GM Foods due the food crisis problem after facing with uncertainty of economic conditions recently and it could be a preparation for the Malaysian food supply system. This study empirically examines the level of consumers’ understanding and knowledge about food crisis and Genetically Modified (GM) foods. In this study, quantitative and qualitative methods or known as triangulation methods had been applied. Through quantitative methods, the questionnaire survey was developed to evaluate consumers’ understanding, knowledge and the perception of food crisis and GM Foods which are the main issues of this research. Using the qualitative approach, the face-to-face interview approach was conducted among experts of various areas such as biotechnology, economic and food industry and it provided truly significant and in-depth information for this study. The overall findings from this study could be streamlined and at the end it clearly indicates that during global and Malaysian food crisis, there is a need for GM foods and the scientific advance such as GM foods is important to deal with the long term needs.However, it is important to see a more focused initiative and systematic development for biotechnology in Malaysia. Thus, efforts to increase funding and improve coordination between government agencies, private companies, academicians and experts responsible for food assistance are all excellent initiatives that have to be looked into. Key words: Genetically Modified (GM) Foods Food crisis Global Food Crisis Malaysian Food crisis INTRODUCTION the 2009-2012 periods are uncertain, most projections In the revisions of October 2008, global economic recover in 2010. growth will slow down to 3.9% in 2008 and 3.0% in A key factor in determining the economic outlook 2009 [1]. The forecasts have been demoted in the wake of will be inflation, which is strongly influenced by global the financial and stock market crises of September oil and food prices [3]. These remained uncertain when and October 2008, which saw the failure of several oil prices reached a record high of US$147 per barrel in imperative financial institutions, a crash in most world July 2008 [4]. Food prices remain somewhat reliant on stock markets and the fractional nationalization of several climatic conditions and harvests, for instance with major banks in advanced economies. In 2010, however, drought in parts of East Asia and Australia in 2008 cutting world growth is expected to rebound to 4.2% and then rice production and raising prices. Given rising global stabilize at 4.8% in 2011 and 2012 [2]. Forecasts have food demand and the ongoing use of crops for bio-fuels, declined owing to a crisis in global financial and credit future crop failures could place more upward pressure on markets in September and October 2008, which some prices [5]. analysts consider to be the most severe since the Wall Moreover, it was reported that global food prices Street crash of 1929. rose 83% over the last three years [2]. On the other hand, The report also revealed that strong inflationary as reported by [5] a 45% increase in their world food price pressures continue to be led by oil and food prices, index during the past nine months. It also has been stated which remain comparatively high and while prospects for that as of March 2008, average world wheat prices were conclude that the global economy should start to